Inner drum tripod and drum washing machine

ABSTRACT

A inner drum tripod, comprising a body for connecting with an inner drum of a washing machine, one side surface of the body faces the inner drum and the other side surface faces back to the inner drum, the part on the body in contact with the inner drum is provided with sealing structure preventing washing water from entering the gap space between the body and the inner drum of the washing machine. A drum washing machine includes an inner drum of the washing machine, the bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine is provided with an installation structure matched with the inner drum tripod, the tripod is fixed and installed at the bottom of the inner drum, and the sealing structure on the tripod contacts with the surface of the inner drum to form a closed connection.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of washing machines, and more particularly, to an inner drum tripod and a drum washing machine.

BACKGROUND

The inner drum tripod of the inner drum of washing machine plays an important role in the washing process as the supporting and reinforcing part of the inner drum. However, in prior art, the inner drum tripod is soaked in washing water for a long time, and a lot of threads and dirt are attached to the surface of the inner drum tripod. Especially the area between the inner drum tripod and the inner drum, where the washing water with threads and dirt is easy to flow in but difficult to come out, an accumulation of the threads and dirt is difficult to remove.

Chinese Patent No. 201520933197.4 discloses a drum washing machine, which mainly includes an outer drum, an inner drum, a tripod and a cleaning device. The inner drum is installed in the outer drum, and the inner drum tripod is installed on the inner drum. The cleaning device includes a spray groove and a spray cover. The spray groove is arranged in the drum wall of the outer drum opposite corner of the inner drum tripod, and the spray groove is set toward the inner drum and the inner drum tripod. The spray cover is covered on the spray groove, and the spray cover is provided with several spray holes. The threads and dirt are removed by setting a cleaning device to flush the connection between the inner drum tripod and the inner drum. However, due to the narrow gap space between the inner drum tripod and the inner drum, it is difficult for the washing water to completely flush the connection between the inner drum tripod and the inner drum. Therefore, the washing effect is limited, and it cannot fundamentally solve the dirty problem in the gap space between the inner drum tripod and the inner drum.

In view of the foregoing, the present disclosure is proposed.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present disclosure is to provide an inner drum tripod with sealing structure and after the inner drum tripod is installed on the inner drum, the threads and dirt can be effectively prevented from entering the gap space between the inner drum tripod and the inner drum.

Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a washing machine having above-mentioned the inner drum tripod.

In order to achieve the first object, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solutions.

An inner drum tripod includes a body for connecting with an inner drum of a washing machine. One side surface of the body faces to the inner drum of the washing machine and the other side surface faces back to the inner drum of the washing machine. The part of the body in contact with the inner drum of the washing machine is provided with a sealing structure which prevents washing water from entering the gap space between the body and the inner drum of the washing machine.

The side surface facing back to the inner drum of the washing machine is a flat and smooth surface, and stiffeners are arranged on the side surface facing the inner drum of the washing machine.

The sealing structure includes a strip-type groove arranged on the outer edge of the body and faces to the inner drum of the washing machine, and a sealing element arranged in the strip-type groove for contacting the surface of the inner drum of the washing machine. The sealing element is elastic.

The side surface of the body facing back to the inner drum of the washing machine is provided with a flange extending parallel to the side surface. The flange is arranged along the outer edge of the body. One side of the flange facing to the inner drum of the washing machine is the inner end face. The groove is arranged on the inner end face and raised toward the inner drum of the washing machine.

The groove is formed of two bars parallel arranged, and the sealing element is stuck between the two bars and is higher than the bars.

The groove is formed of at least three bars parallel arranged, and the sealing element is an integral or split structure, which stuck between bars and is higher than the bars.

The body includes three support arms, and three groups of grooves are provided and distributed on both sides of the support arms. Each group of groove is arranged from the end of one support arm and ends at the end of the other support arm.

Another object of the present disclosure is to disclose a drum washing machine equipped with the inner drum tripod which at least includes an inner drum. The bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine is provided with an installation structure cooperated with the inner drum tripod. The inner drum tripod is fixed and installed at the bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine, and the sealing structure on the inner drum tripod contacts with the surface of the inner drum of the washing machine to form a closed connection.

The bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine is provided with a first center through-hole, the center of the inner drum tripod is provided with a second center through-hole. The edge of the second center through-hole is provided with a convex annular flange, and the end face of the annular flange has a sealing contact with the first center through-hole of the inner drum of the washing machine.

The end of the support arm of the inner drum tripod is in contact with the interior circumferential of the bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine. The end and wall of the inner drum of the washing machine are provided with screw holes which are mutually matched and connected with each other through screws.

After the technical solution of the present disclosure is adopted, the following beneficial effects are brought about:

The sealing structure of the inner drum tripod in the present disclosure can implement reliable seal of connecting between the inner drum tripod and inner drum of the washing machine, and can isolate the washing water and the gap space between the body and the inner drum of the washing machine. The dirty problem in the gap space between the inner drum tripod and the inner drum are solved by setting the sealing structure, which improve the quality of the environment inside the washing machine, effectively avoid the secondary pollution in the process of laundry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural view after assembling the inner drum tripod and inner drum of the washing machine;

FIG. 2 is the main view of embodiment 1;

FIG. 3 is the section view of plane A-A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a structural view of the inner drum tripod in embodiment 1;

FIG. 5 is the main view of the inner drum tripod in embodiment 1;

FIG. 6 is the section view of plane B-B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is the cross-section view of the sealing element in embodiment 2;

In FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings, 1—inner drum of washing machine, 2—body of tripod, 3—groove, 4—flange, 5—stiffener, 6—annular flange, 7—sealing element, 8—convex mounting structure, 11—first center through-hole, 21—second center through-hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in FIGS. 1-7.

Embodiment 1

As shown in FIG. 1, an inner drum tripod is generally installed at the bottom of the inner drum 1 of washing machine in order to improve the strength of the inner drum 1. The inner drum tripod specifically includes a body 2 used to connect with the inner drum 1. The body 2 is described as the triangular structure, including three radial extension support arms. The angle between the two adjacent support arms is 120 degrees. The support arms have a certain thickness.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, one side surface of the body 2 faces to the inner drum 1 of the washing machine and the other side surface faces back to the inner drum 1 of the washing machine. When the body 2 is installed on the inner drum 1 of the washing machine, there will be a certain gap space between them. In order to prevent dirt from entering the gap with the washing water, the part on the body 2 in contact with the inner drum 1 of the washing machine is provided with sealing structure preventing washing water from entering the gap space between the body 2 and the inner drum 1 of the washing machine. The sealing structure is arranged to go along the contour lines of the body 2. The sealing structure prevent the washing water with dirt from entering the gap space between the body 2 and inner drum 1 of the washing machine though contact with inner drum 1 of the washing machine.

As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, preferably, in order to avoid debris such as threads and dirt adhering on the surface of the body 2, the side surface of the body 2 facing back to the inner drum 1 of the washing machine is a flat and smooth surface. The body 2 is provided with stiffeners 5 arranged on the side surface facing the inner drum 1 of the washing machine. When the body 2 is installed on the inner drum 1 of the washing machine, the stiffeners 5 will be hidden between the two, effectively improving the strength of the body 2, and avoiding contact with debris such as threads and dirt.

The sealing structure includes a strip-type groove 3 arranged on the outer edge of the body 2 and facing to the inner drum 1 of the washing machine, and a sealing element 7 arranged in the strip-type groove 3 for contacting the surface of the inner drum 1 of the washing machine. The sealing element 7 is elastic and can be pressed on the surface of inner drum 1 of the washing machine. The sealing element 7 can be rubber material or other elastic material that can be used for sealing.

The side surface of the body 2 facing back to the inner drum 1 of the washing machine is provided with a flange 4 extending parallel to the side surface. The flange 4 is arranged along the outer edge of the body 2. One side of the flange 4 facing to the inner drum 1 of the washing machine is the inner end face. The groove 3 is arranged on the inner end face and raised toward the inner drum 1 of the washing machine.

Preferably, the flange 4 and the body 2 form an integrated body and molding, and the thickness of the flange 4 is less than the width of the body 2 in the axial direction.

The groove 3 is formed of two bars parallel arranged. The two bars are separated by a certain distance. The sealing element 7 is stuck between two bars and is higher than the bars. When the inner drum tripod is mounted on the inner drum 1 of the washing machine, the sealing element 7 is extruded and deformed jointly by the strip bars and the inner drum 1 of the washing machine, forming a sealing contact.

Three groups of grooves 3 are provided and distributed on both sides of the support arms. Each group of groove 3 is arranged from the end of one support arm and ends at the end of the other support arm. The groove 3 is arranged along the whole side of the supporting arm, so that both sides of the supporting arm and inner drum 1 of the washing machine are seamlessly connected to achieve the sealing effect.

Embodiment 2

As shown in FIG. 7, for better sealing effect, at least two side-by-side grooves 3 are formed by setting at least three bars parallel arranged. The sealing element 7 is an integral or split structure, which stuck between the two bars and is higher than the bars to contact with surface of inner drum 1 of washing machine.

Specifically, when the sealing element 7 is an integral structure, a multi-row sealing strip with multiple convex mounting structures 8 can be selected, and each convex mounting structure 8 is stuck in an groove 3. When the sealing element 7 is a split structure, a rectangular sealing strip can be installed in each installing groove 3 to form multiple sealing contact surfaces and improve the sealing effect.

A drum washing machine equipped with the inner drum tripod mentioned in the two embodiments above generally includes a case, an outer drum and an inner drum 1 of the washing machine arranged in the case, and a power device and a control system. The bottom of the inner drum 1 of the washing machine is provided with an installation structure cooperated with the inner drum tripod. Preferably, the installation structure is a groove matching the shape of the inner drum tripod. The inner drum tripod is fixedly installation at the bottom of inner drum 1 of the washing machine with screws by means of fastening. The sealing structure on the inner drum tripod is in contact with the surface of the inner drum 1 of the washing machine to form a closed connection.

In order to connect the power device with the inner drum 1 of the washing machine, the bottom of the inner drum 1 of the washing machine is provided with a first center through-hole 11; the center of the inner drum tripod is provided with a second center through-hole 21. The first center through-hole 11 is coaxially arranged with the second center through-hole 21. The rotating shaft of the power device sticks through the second center through-hole 21 and extends into the first center through-hole 11 and is connected with the inner drum 1 of the washing machine to drive the inner drum 1 of the washing machine to rotate.

The edge of the second center through-hole 21 is provided with a convex annular flange 6, and the end face of the annular flange 6 has a sealing contact with the first center through-hole 11 of the inner drum of the washing machine.

The end of the support arm of the inner drum tripod is in contact with the interior circumferential of the bottom of the inner drum 1 of the washing machine. The end and the wall of the inner drum of the washing machine are also provided with screw holes which are mutually matched and connected with each other through screws. Specifically, the screw is rotated from the circumferential outer side at the bottom of inner drum 1 of the washing machine to the screw hole at the end of the support arm.

Because the sealing structure is set between the inner drum tripod and the inner tube 1 of the washing machine, the gap space between the inner tube tripod and the inner drum 1 of the washing machine is sealed, cutting off the channel for washing water to enter the gap space, and thoroughly solving the problem of the accumulation of the threads and dirt in the gap space.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein. 

1. An inner drum tripod, comprising a body for connecting with an inner drum of a washing machine, a first side surface of the body facing to the inner drum of the washing machine and a second side surface facing back to the inner drum of the washing machine, wherein a part on the body in contact with the inner drum of the washing machine is provided with a sealing structure for preventing washing water from entering a space between the body and the inner drum of the washing machine.
 2. The inner drum tripod according to claim 1, wherein the second side surface of the body facing back to the inner drum of the washing machine is a flat and smooth surface, and stiffeners are arranged on the first side surface facing the inner drum of the washing machine.
 3. The inner drum tripod according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure includes: a groove with a strip-type arranged on an outer edge of the body and facing to the inner drum of the washing machine, and a sealing element arranged in the groove for contacting with a surface of the inner drum of the washing machine, the sealing element is elastic.
 4. The inner drum tripod according to claim 3, wherein the second side surface of the body facing back to the inner drum of the washing machine is provided with a flange extending parallel to the side surface, the flange is arranged along the outer edge of the body, one side of the flange facing to the inner drum of the washing machine is an inner end face, the groove is arranged on the inner end face and raises toward the inner drum of the washing machine.
 5. The inner drum tripod according to claim 4, wherein the groove is formed of two bars parallel arranged, and the sealing element is stuck between the two bars and is higher than the bars.
 6. The inner drum tripod according to claim 4, wherein the groove is formed of at least three bars parallel arranged, and the sealing element is an integral or split structure is stuck between the two bars, and is higher than the bars.
 7. The inner drum tripod according to claim 6, wherein the body is provided with three support arms, and three groups of grooves are provided and distributed on both sides of each of the support arms, each of the grooves is arranged from an end of one support arm to an end of another support arm.
 8. A drum washing machine equipped with the inner drum tripod according to claim 1, at least including an inner drum of the washing machine, a bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine is provided with an installation structure cooperated with the inner drum tripod, the inner drum tripod is fixedly installed at the bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine, and the sealing structure of the inner drum tripod is in contact with a surface of the inner drum of the washing machine to form a closed connection.
 9. The drum washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine is provided with a first center through-hole, a center of the inner drum tripod is provided with a second center through-hole, an edge of the second center through-hole is provided with a convex annular flange, and an end face of the annular flange has a sealing contact with the first center through-hole of the inner drum of the washing machine.
 10. The drum washing machine according to claim 8, wherein an end of the support arm of the inner drum tripod is in contact with an interior circumferential of the bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine, the end and a wall of the inner drum of the washing machine are also provided with screw holes which are mutually matched and connected with each other through screws.
 11. The inner drum tripod according to claim 2, wherein the sealing structure includes: a groove with a strip-type arranged on an outer edge of the body and facing to the inner drum of the washing machine, and a sealing element arranged in the groove for contacting with a surface of the inner drum of the washing machine, the sealing element is elastic.
 12. The drum washing machine according to claim 9, wherein an end of the support arm of the inner drum tripod is in contact with an interior circumferential of the bottom of the inner drum of the washing machine, the end and a wall of the inner drum of the washing machine are also provided with screw holes which are mutually matched and connected with each other through screws. 